Diplomatic World_69

HER HIGHNESS
SHEIKHA INTISAR AL SABAH
OF KUWAIT
I am a firm believer that empowering Arab women
impacted by the brutality of war and violence
can transform them into the
Arab world’s most impactful peacemakers
LIKE QUEEN MATHILDE OF BELGIUM, YOU ARE
A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF MENTAL
HEALTH, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF GLOBAL
CRISIS. HOW CAN MENTAL HEALTH CONTRIBUTE
TO A SOCIETY’S WELL-BEING AND THE QUEST
FOR PEACE?
My contributions to the field of peacebuilding are strongly
embodied in the Intisar Foundation, a UK-registered humanitarian
organisation and the first charitable organisation to provide
psychological support programmes of drama therapy to Arab
women impacted by the brutality of war and violence.
In 2017, in collaboration with the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), and in the presence of the Vice-President
Christine Beerli, I organised a roundtable and art exhibition
entitled “Women in War”, to highlight the challenges faced by
women in war-torn areas. The roundtable inspired 24 artists to
collaborate on a book “Women in War”, but it was also then that
I learned, to my dismay, that no mental health support was being
offered to Arab women affected by war and violence, and thus
I choose to do something about it.
Officially registered as a humanitarian organisation with the
Charity Commission for England and Wales on March 8, 2019,
marking International Women’s Day, Intisar Foundation is a
private initiative born from my determination to find and implement
the most effective psychological approach for alleviating
trauma in these Arab women.
And now, there are many important facts and insights to share
when answering your question about how mental health contributes
to a society’s well-being and the quest for peace.
Firstly, one of our current research projects analyses how
tackling the psychological impact of trauma on women affected
by war leads to their lower levels of aggression and higher
impulse control at home. It then reduces the danger of these
women maltreating their children, and consequently, reduces the
children developing any maladaptive behaviours that might lead
to violence in the future. In this way, where there was conflict, we
manage to raise peaceful children.
To ensure the effectiveness of our work, we always conduct
studies and surveys to measure the impact of our work. A
pilot study we conducted among Lebanese, Syrian, and
Palestinian women after our drama therapy programme in the
Shatila Refugee Camp in Beirut, Lebanon, has revealed that
68.75 percent of participants experienced reduction in posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), 93.75 percent in depression,
75 percent in anxiety, while 78 percent experienced increased
self-esteem, 43.75 percent increased satisfaction in life, and
75 percent stated experiencing increasing positive emotional
experiences and decreasing negative emotional experiences.
Without a doubt, drama therapy is an effective and efficient
approach to mental health issues caused by war and violence.
Plus, another outcome of drama therapy reducing PTSD
symptoms, such as aggression and low-impulse control, is the
reduction of household violence either directly from the mother or
indirectly through the reduction of tensions within the household
and facilitating better emotional growth and communication within
the family. The anticipated long-term effects of this are better
social integration for the family, a decreased likelihood of school
dropout rates and risks leading to criminal, violent or extremism.
Women play a huge role in maintaining the cohesion of their families
and nurturing the emotional needs of their children. Through
the foundation’s work, it was observed how when the matriarchal
figure in a given family is given support and care by a greater
community around her, she flourishes and imparts those benefits
on her children, husband, parents, and community. On average,
for every woman that Intisar Foundation reaches, between 6 and
10 indirect beneficiaries are also reached. By helping one woman
Her Highness Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah of Kuwait
become more resilient, accepting, and at Peace with herself,
conflict of all kinds as they are often the most badly affected
we will also be helping those around her prosper and grow like and least likely to be the perpetrators of violence, BUT (2) Arab
she has.
women particularly often face impenetrable cultural, social, and
language barriers which prevent them from attending psychological
care services.
Even more importantly, Intisar Foundation’s work has shown
evidence of changing deeply entrenched cultural narratives,
such as Arab women ending the practice of child marriages due For instance, while Lebanon and Jordan have the highest refugee
to a newly-adopted belief that they can protect their daughters population per capita in the world, with 156 and 72 per 1,000
by encouraging them to gain education and hoping for their
residents respectively, some data suggest that not so long ago
future economic empowerment, as opposed to marrying them there were only 1.1 psychiatrists per 100,000 residents of Jordan,
off. The foundation’s team also reports the cases of female
and only 1.2 psychiatrists per 100,000 residents of Lebanon.
victims of domestic violence standing up to their abusers.
The implications that a lack of timely and adequate mental health
Secondly, our focus on Arab women affected by war and violence
rests upon my realisation that (1) women in general are
also affect their children and families. And this is why I founded
care can have on their psychological well-being can be huge and
more vulnerable to the psychological impact of war and violent Intisar Foundation.
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